"Character Counts" was a popular slogan one year for the Boy Scouts of America and drove home the point that every thing any leader did, set an example to every scout we interacted with. Not only that, it reminded us that we influenced everyone who did or didn't have anything to with Scouting in general. On top of that, it's also a widely used program in the educational system throughout our country emphasizing the qualities we want children to emulate and grow up with. Leaders and teachers are able to reinforce that same theme with scouts and students so that they realize, THEIR character counts with everyone who looks up to them, or watches them from afar. And yes, even children learn that at an early age.
Some grown men obviously never do.
Most firefighters I know, adopt the same thinking along with the notion that it's also their job to protect the perception of their profession. But instead, because of a personal agenda driven political campaign claiming to be the "firefighters' choice", there has been much dirty laundry aired in the newspapers and that letter to the commissioners being publicly read about things that should not be happening in the Fire Department. They could and should be handled discreetly within the management without making it all public opinion fodder. Putting out signs all over in duplicate to their opponents with a blanket statement of "the firefighters' choice" and going door-to-door to over 2700 doors in the district of over 55,000 voters (just in the SMFD) with the "appearance" of being "official" when in reality they are a union-based interest, is not ALL 'the firefighters' choice'. A more TRANSPARENT and honest approach with what they'll really do for the district would have shown true integrity, instead of this grand illusion that's really just another version of the children's story, "the Emperor's Clothes".
Ironically it was the union president, Merv Kennell who said, “It’s about bringing transparency and a change from the ‘good old boy network’ to Southern Manatee. “It’s been a culture of fear and intimidation. If anybody questioned something, they would be fired.” I'm sure he's referring to the dismissal of firefighter Jerry Bennett whom Donchenko had referred to in his deceptive letter, but if the records are checked, Bennett brought his own dismissal on himself through his workman's compensation issues. If Kennell wants an "honest and transparent district", then certainly he wouldn't and shouldn't want the taxpayers supporting a non-working firefighter who could be working or could be getting healed to get back to work or on with whatever he needed to do. The "good ol' boy" network hasn't existed in Southern Manatee since the last time the board was taken over and prior to that, it's inception. There's no fear or intimidation by those who are straight up and honest in their dealings with their job.
One particular hot subject has been the pornography email accusations. A sensitive subject and hot topic that no one likes to think about in any workplace and mentioned again in the paper this weekend. When these came to light, it was discovered that the problem ran much deeper but it wasn't just with Chief Gover, so much as it was amongst all the firefighters, Battalion Chiefs, and other officers. What has been discovered is that because the Chief's a trusting person and his computer is open to others, there's a good chance it may have been compromised to equally implicate the Chief but the fact is the whole department has some issues on this.
Now, doesn't this sound like an internal issue that should have been handled more discreetly by the management (the Board) with their employees (the Department)? So, for that, the Commissioners know they will have to institute new directives, order sensitivity training and reinforce specific rules against such immoral behavior on or with District property. Of course, this is not condoned by the Board of Commissinioners, but it's an easy fix and one that is an internal issue that is not uncommon for any workplace to deal with. It is not something that should be aired publicly to DRAG THE DEPARTMENT THROUGH THE MUD as Pete Donchenko indicated he did not want to do but then blatantly did under the assumed name of Steve Stevenson! There's no character-building, department protective principle in that action!
